Moody's Notebook

Welcome to the Notebook. My name is Randy Johnson, but if I had a pen name it would be “R.J. Moody”. My notebook contains personal observations, stories, and poetry, ranging from the serious to the absurd. Inside I hope you find something that you enjoy reading, and maybe even something worth sharing with a friend. All content unless otherwise noted is my original property. Please do not use without permission.

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Some people say, America today is a lot like the Titanic was in 1912, heading straight for an iceberg; and they may not be too far off. But blaming people on food stamps, Medicare, welfare, etc. for our current mess and dangerous trajectory makes about as much sense as blaming the poor people who perished on the lower decks of the Titanic for that disaster. No, those poor immigrants searching for a better life at the dawn of the last century didn’t steer the ship “full steam ahead” into catastrophe, and neither are today’s immigrants, working poor people, or those receiving needed government assistance steering America “full steam ahead” into the looming shadow of her iceberg.No, the poor are not the reason we’re in this mess. The two men taking turns at the ship’s wheel are David and Bill Koch. They’re the ones taking us on this rich man’s joy ride. “Too big to fail” is the new “Unsinkable”, and in their arrogance they actually believe it’s true. But why wouldn’t they? We bailed them out when they capsized the last ship with almost no protest. We handed them the wheel long ago by allowing gerrymandering to fix our course, and the Citizens United decision gave them all the coal they need to power the engines “full steam ahead!” Meanwhile money-drunk CEO’s and their Wall Street cronies are partying on the deck, unconcerned about the collision that lies ahead.And why should they worry? America’s iceberg is still several fiscal cycles away. They have plenty of time to cash in and get off the ship. Then what? Democracy and the poor slobs working to power this nation sink to the bottom. So What? What’s it to them?Of course we could do something about it… Yes, you and me, and the other 99% of this country. We could stop fighting each other, and stop blaming the blameless long enough to veer this nation away from oligarchy, and back toward representative democracy. We may not be allowed up on the deck with the luxury passengers, but if we all stick an oar in the water from down here, we can turn this thing. My oar’s in the water. How about you? I’m making another small donation to the Bernie Sanders for President campaign today. And when I can afford to I’ll do it again. You may choose another candidate, but I encourage you to hear Bernie out before making a final decision.Note: A lot of the web sites selling Bernie Sanders merchandise are NOT a part of the campaign, and are simply profiteering off of Bernie’s growing momentum. And many of the “Bernie Sanders for President” web ads you’re likely to see are actually collecting donations for “Act Blue” which is a legitimate site, and they do a great job as a PAC collecting and effectively spending money on behalf of Democratic candidates, but to contribute DIRECTLY to the Bernie Sanders campaign go to www.berniesanders.com …As good as Act Blue may be, Bernie doesn’t need a middleman. Besides, PACs are a part of the problem we're trying to fix.Well, that’s all I’ve got to say for now. Enjoy the Republican clown show, but seriously, seriously study the candidates… their words, but most importantly their record. WARNING: Iceberg ahead if we don’t.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

I lowered the needle to the record,carefully.Bobby Pickett’s name tumbled,like pants in a dryer;circling round and around,on the plastic turntable.“I was working in the lab late one night,”it began. And The Monster Mash tumbledlike bones from the speaker,filling my bedroom with sound,at 45 RPMs.Then it did what it always did. ...It skipped!“He opened,”“He opened, He opened,” ...Smack!“the lid and shook his fist and said, ‘Whatever happenedto my Transylvania twist?’"

Saturday, April 11, 2015

The tide may finally be turning,but the lives of black menwho died unjustly in our streets,and in the death row gallows of America,will never be recovered,from the sea of bigotrythat washed them away,like so much driftwood.The best we can do now,is walk to the water’s edge,and seek to make amends.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Well it’s that time of year again... Tis the season when a bunch of non-Irish people are about to try their hands at some traditional Irish cooking. If you’re one of them my friend, this article is for you. Now whether your plan is to create an entire St. Patty’s Day feast, or you just need to show up at the Thompson’s potluck with a respectable dish, here are a few tips you’ll need to know. First of all: Corned beef and cabbage is not a traditional Irish dish. Sorry. I realize that just eliminated 90% of your ideas, but if you’re goal is to serve authentic Irish fare, you’ll need to dig a little deeper.

Well you’re in luck, because I’ve done the digging for you. I found my great-grandmother O’Malley’s cookbook in the attic just last week, and the stained dog-eared pages revealed a wealth of information. This is stuff you won’t find in your Betty Crocker Cookbook, or even on Pinterest. Now I can’t possibly share all of its Irish cooking secrets here, but I can tell you this: If you’re ready to step up your game this year… If you want your dish to be the hit of the potluck, try the Boiled Leprechaun.

Combine all ingredients in large pot. Boil 1 hour.Simmer until tender. Serve with spiced mustard.

Mmm-mmm! Doesn’t that sound delicious? Now I know what you’re probably thinking. “Where am I going to find a leprechaun this close to St. Patrick’s Day?” Well, you’re right. Most butchers have been sold out for weeks, and if you haven’t already ordered one, you’re probably sunk.

But don’t despair. I found a handy conversion chart in the back of great-grandma’s cookbook. It says you can substitute one elf for two leprechauns in any recipe. I know that means making a double batch, but who wouldn’t want leftovers of a dish like this? Also, the book says if you’re in a bind you can substitute a gnome for an elf, but you’ll need to marinate the gnome in a gallon of sweet white wine for 24-36 hours before cooking. Otherwise it will taste like troll.

Lastly, and the book says this is very important: Do not, unless you want your guests to have gas for a week, do not serve troll!

Well I hope this helps with your holiday meal planning. Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!

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A Little About Me

I'm just a guy with a wandering mind, a love for nature, and an interest in politics. I'm intolerant of intolerance and in support civil rights for all people. I'm against trickle-down economics. I'm against the neo-con ideals of might makes right, and privatization is the answer to everything. I'm for single-payer healthcare. I'm for raising the cap on the social security tax, so the mega-rich will have to chip in the same percentage of their income as the middle class, allowing all of us to retire with some level of security and dignity. I campaigned for Barack Obama because I believe it's time to shift the balance of power away from the fringes of fascism, and back toward the common citizen, or as John Adams (our first conservative president) called us “the multitude, the vulgar, the herd, the rabble, the mob.” Sorry Adams, but I think Jefferson was on the right track, and I hope someday his vision will be realized. If we really want to save this country, we need publicly funded elections, and a reemergence of a strong independent news media with the balls to hold our politicians to account once again. Walter Cronkite, Edward R Murrow, we need you now more than ever!